Haaland scores again, Man City closes in on Arsenal's top spot

(Football results) - Manchester City showed superior power with a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on the road, maintaining their chase of Arsenal for the 2025/26 Premier League championship.

On the evening of December 14 (Vietnam time), Manchester City visited Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the context of the 16th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. With outstanding class and clinical finishing, Pep Guardiola’s squad secured a convincing win.

Right from kickoff, Man City took control of the game using their trademark short-passing style. Although Crystal Palace defended tightly, they struggled under continuous pressure from the visitors.

In the 17th minute, Yeremy Pino nearly gave Palace the lead with a shot that hit the crossbar, before Erling Haaland made an impact at the 41st minute. From a precise cross on the wing, the Norwegian striker rose high to deliver a sharp header, opening the score at 1-0 for Man City. The first half ended with the visitors ahead, despite Palace having some notable responses, including a shot by Jean Philippe Mateta saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

In the second half, Crystal Palace pushed forward in search of an equalizer and had a clear chance in the 49th minute when Adam Wharton's shot struck the post. However, before they could capitalize, the home side paid the price.

At the 69th minute, Phil Foden received a perfect pass inside the box and fired a low, precise shot to double Man City’s lead. This goal almost crushed Crystal Palace’s spirit. The final minutes were dominated entirely by Man City. In the 88th minute, goalkeeper Dean Henderson committed a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Erling Haaland to complete his brace from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, sealing a 3-0 victory for the visitors.

With this result, Man City continues to apply strong pressure on Arsenal in the title race as the gap between the two teams narrows to a slim 2 points.